Dry brushing - a miracle remedy for nicer skin, less cellulite, a stronger immune system and more energy, or just another gimmick in our bathroom cabinet? What's behind the big hype around dry brushing? Our nutrition scientist has taken on the questions around the trend and reveals in the following post what you can really expect from regular dry brushing.
What is dry brushing
Dry brushing, also known simply as dry brushing in English, originated over 5,000 years ago in Ayurveda, the traditional Indian system of medicine. The aim is to move lymph fluid that has built up in the tissue from the outer pathways in your arms and legs towards the centre of the body, the heart. By brushing dry skin towards the heart, toxins and metabolic waste are meant to be guided to the liver and kidneys and carried away. The effect is based on its decongesting, soothing and muscle-relaxing properties. The gentle lymphatic drainage is also meant to strengthen the body's defences. In Ayurveda, it is also called a Garshan massage.
The naturopath Sebastian Kneipp brought dry brushing to Germany in the mid-19th century. Alongside water treatments, according to Kneipp, dry brushing first thing in the morning after getting up is meant to chase away tiredness, stabilise the autonomic nervous system, strengthen the immune system and may help you ward off common colds.
Dry brushing guide: how to dry brush
Dry brushing works especially well as a morning routine to wake up and energise your body gently. Brushing your skin is less suited to the evening, as it can have an energising effect. People who feel wound up, struggle to wind down in the evening or find it hard to fall asleep should dry brush in the morning instead. To unwind in the evening and do something good for your skin, we recommend relaxing baths with natural oils to give your body some moisture. The bath bomb in the frank Self-Care Bundle contains the gentle scent of lavender plus moisturising organic shea butter and organic-certified almond oil.
Here's a quick summary of what you should keep in mind for your new routine:
-
Choosing the right dry brush
There are two things to consider when choosing a brush. First, ask yourself which bristles you prefer. There are synthetic bristles made of nylon, bristles made of animal hair (usually horsehair) and natural bristles made of plant fibres. Plant fibres are especially sustainable and are particularly recommended for beginners by experts, because they are available in lower firmness levels than horsehair. That makes them gentler on the skin. When developing the frank. Care Bundle, we chose the sustainable and vegan option made of plant fibres. The brush is made of FSC-certified beechwood, and a cotton strap rounds off the look perfectly. You also get the frank. Care Bundle with our beauty cleanse, which also combines food supplements from our partner BIOGENA and a frank. juice cleanse.
Besides the choice of brush, firmness also plays an important role. The brush shouldn't be too soft, otherwise you won't get the effects you're after. A soft to medium-firm brush is recommended for beginners. After a while, you can slowly work your way up to firmer bristles.
-
Brush towards the heart
With dry brushing, you start with even strokes towards the heart on the outside of your right foot. Massage with gentle pressure over the whole surface of the foot, then the lower leg and the thigh, and then switch sides.
After the legs, move on to your bottom and then your arms. Here too, you start at the right hand and work your way up towards the heart with stroking movements, all the way to the shoulders. Then switch arms.
Next, brush your tummy and your back. On your tummy, brush in circular movements following the course of the gut, so clockwise from your point of view. On your back, too, you should brush in circular movements. The connection between gut and skin also plays an interesting role when using the dry brush.
-
How long you should dry brush
How long you dry brush can vary, depending on how much time you want to give your body in the morning. In general, a few minutes are enough. Just 3-5 minutes in the morning can energise you and bring a better sense of wellbeing.
-
How often you should dry brush
As mentioned, the positive effects of dry brushing only show up with regular use. After a longer break, the positive effects, such as firmer, smoother skin and less water retention, can fade again. That's why we recommend making dry brushing a fixed morning routine in your day. If you can't manage it every day, even 3 sessions a week can bring first effects.
Conclusion: add dry brushing to your morning routine with our guide
As you now know, the hype around dry brushing is quite justified. Even though the dry brush isn't a cure-all, regular dry brushing can have a positive effect on your wellbeing, your performance and your complexion.
We love brushing our skin during a juice cleanse as a restorative self-care ritual. Especially during a fasting phase, we manage to build firm routines and listen to what our body needs. That's also one reason we want to give you something for your inner wellbeing with our Self-Care Bundle. Build fixed self-care routines and put the focus on your new mindset.
Dry brushing guide: how to dry brush
Dry brushing works especially well as a morning routine to wake up and energise your body gently. Brushing your skin is less suited to the evening, as it can have an energising effect. People who feel wound up, struggle to wind down in the evening or find it hard to fall asleep should dry brush in the morning instead. To unwind in the evening and do something good for your skin, we recommend relaxing baths with natural oils to give your body some moisture. The bath bomb in the frank Self-Care Bundle contains the gentle scent of lavender plus moisturising organic shea butter and organic-certified almond oil.
Here's a quick summary of what you should keep in mind for your new routine:
Choosing the right dry brush
There are two things to consider when choosing a brush. First, ask yourself which bristles you prefer. There are synthetic bristles made of nylon, bristles made of animal hair (usually horsehair) and natural bristles made of plant fibres. Plant fibres are especially sustainable and are particularly recommended for beginners by experts, because they are available in lower firmness levels than horsehair. That makes them gentler on the skin. When developing the frank Care Set, we chose the sustainable and vegan option made of plant fibres. The brush is made of FSC-certified beechwood, and a cotton strap rounds off the look perfectly.
Besides the choice of brush, firmness also plays an important role. The brush shouldn't be too soft, otherwise you won't get the effects you're after. A soft to medium-firm brush is recommended for beginners. After a while, you can slowly work your way up to firmer bristles.
Brush towards the heart
With dry brushing, you start with even strokes towards the heart on the outside of your right foot. Massage with gentle pressure over the whole surface of the foot, then the lower leg and the thigh, and then switch sides.
After the legs, move on to your bottom and then your arms. Here too, you start at the right hand and work your way up towards the heart with stroking movements, all the way to the shoulders. Then switch arms.
Next, brush your tummy and your back. On your tummy, brush in circular movements following the course of the gut, so clockwise from your point of view. On your back, too, you should brush in circular movements. The connection between gut and skin also plays an interesting role when using the dry brush.
How long you should dry brush
How long you dry brush can vary, depending on how much time you want to give your body in the morning. In general, a few minutes are enough. Just 3-5 minutes in the morning can energise you and bring a better sense of wellbeing.
How often you should dry brush
As mentioned, the positive effects of dry brushing only show up with regular use. After a longer break, the positive effects, such as firmer, smoother skin and less water retention, can fade again. That's why we recommend making dry brushing a fixed morning routine in your day. If you can't manage it every day, even 3 sessions a week can bring first effects.
Conclusion: add dry brushing to your morning routine with our guide
As you now know, the hype around dry brushing is quite justified. Even though the dry brush isn't a cure-all, regular dry brushing can have a positive effect on your wellbeing, your performance and your complexion.
We love brushing our skin during a juice cleanse as a restorative self-care ritual. Especially during a fasting phase, we manage to build firm routines and listen to what our body needs. That's also one reason we want to give you something for your inner wellbeing with our Self-Care Bundle. Build fixed self-care routines and put the focus on your new mindset.
